Unpiling device for lumber.



C. A. LOHMAN.

UNPILING DEVlCE FOR LUMBER APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15 19H}.

Patented. J 111 16, 1918.

2 SHE TSSHEET 1- Inventor fi'ari fl Lobmam C. A. LOHIVIAN.

UNPILING DEVICE FOR LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. 1916.

1,272A72 Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETQSSHEET 2.

N a j lnyemior CARL A. LOHMAN, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

UNPILING DEVICE FOR LUMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed November 15, 1916. Serial No. 131,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL A. LonMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of ashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Unpiling Devices for Lumi'ber, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention relates to lumber handling devices and consists of an apparatus for use in breaking down and distributing lumber after it has been through the dry kiln. The device might thus be called an unpiling device.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the lumber may be easily and cheaply distributed and sorted and in such manner as to dispense with as much labor as possible. 7

The novel features of my invention will be hereina 'ter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show my invention in forms of construction which are now preferred by me.

Figure l is a side elevation of one type of construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same type. of construction.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified type of structure.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on. a plane just within the rack bars of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

In the modern practice of kiln drying lumber, the lumber is assembled in piles of suitable size to make a truck load. These truck loads must be taken down and distributed and sorted. One reason for this is that the entire load may not be of the same kind of lumber. Another is that the kiln drying process often causes warping, checking, and other defects in the lumber which necessitates a grading operation before storing or delivery to the purchaser.

I provide an elevated support for the pile of lumber as it is removed from the kiln, this support being inclined to such a degree that there is a strong tendency for the lumber to slide down the incline. This support is shown in the drawings as beams l. The pile of lumber is placed with its length extending across the beams.

To prevent sliding of the pile down the incline I provide a stop or stops, which are adjustable in height so that they may be lumber and en a ng said pile to holr lowered to thereby permit single layers to slide off at a time. These slide down the incline ways 20 of the adjustable stop device to a sorting table 8.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has the stop and the inclined slide ways 20 in the form of a frame which is hinged at the end opposite the pile of lumber. It has rack bars 23 at the end next to the lumber pile, which are engaged and operated by the pinions 24 mounted upon a transversely eX- tending shaft 25. This shaft is turned and controlled by any suitable means, either hand or power. I have shown hand cranks 26, but these are only indicative of any suitable means.

The alternative construction shown in Fig.

3 employs a rigid frame in which the beams 2 which engage the lumber pile and form the stops, are straight and the frame moves alike at both ends. To secure this result both ends are provided with rack bars, 23, operated by pinions 2 on shafts 25, and the shafts at opposite ends are actuated alike through some suitabletransmission mechanism, as the chain a and wheels therefor carried by the shafts.

I have not shown any power operating connections, as this may or may not be done and the manner of doing this would be a simple one for any mechanic.

The manner of operating this device is believed to be clear and to not need any fur ther explanation.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a means for taking down and sorting a pile of lumber after drying, in combination, a sorting table, a support for the pile of lumber elevated above and removed latcn ally from the sorting table, said support being inclined toward the sorting table at an angle at which the lumber will slide, and inclined guideways extending from one side of the sorting table to the elevated pile of b the same against sliding, and means for ra' and lowering these guideways to permit the lumber to slide from the pile a layer at a time.

2. In a means for taking down and sorta pile of lumber after drying, in combination, a sorting table, a support for the pile of lumber elevated above and removed laterally from the sorting table, said support being inclined toward the sortin table at an angle at which the lumber will slide,

positioned to means for ralsing and lowering the swinging end of said guideways totpermit the lumber to slide down the same to the sorting table a layer at a time.

3. In a means for sorting lumber, a sorting table, a slideway pivoted at one side of said table and having an arcuate outer end extending downward from its upper sliding surface, elevated supports for a pile of lumber inclined toward said slideway and extending to the swinging end thereof, and means for raising and lowering said slideway. v

4. In a means for taking down and sorting a pile of lumber that is disposed in a number of layers one above the other, the combination with a support for the pile of lumber which is disposed at such an angle as to cause the lumber to tend to slide therefrom, of a stop against which the front face of the pile of lumber abuts, means for moving the stop downwardly across the face of the pile of lumber to successively uncover the several layers and inclined guides extending from the stops onto which the lumber passes and by which the lumber is discharged.

5. In a means for taking down and sort ing a pile of lumber that is disposed in a number of layers, one above the other, the combination with a support for the pile of lumber which is disposed at such an angle 'as to cause the lumber to tend to slide therefrom, a receiving element for the lumber, a stop against which the front face of'the pile of lumber abuts, means for moving the stop downwardly across the face of the pile of lumber to successively uncover the several layers and inclined guides extending from the stop on to which the lumber passes and by which the lumber is discharged, the said guides being so mounted as to maintain their operative relation to the receiving elemen throughout the movement of the stop across the face of the pile of lumber.

6. In-a means for taking down and'sortinga pile of lumber that is disposed in a number of layers one above the other, the combination with a support for the pile of lumber which is disposed at such an angle as to cause the lumber to tend toslide therefrom, a receiving element for the lumber and a structure movable across the front face of the pile of lumber to successively uncover the layers thereof and comprisinga plurality of spaced stops and inclined guides extending from the upper ends of said spaced stops, said guides being arranged to discharge upon the receiving element.

7. In a means for taking down and sorting a pile of lumber that is disposed in a number of layers one above the other, the

combination with a support for the pile of lumber which is disposed at such an angle as to cause the lumber to tend to slide therefrom, of a receiving element for the pile of lumber and a structure disposed betweenthe receiving element and the pile of lumber and comprising spaced stops against which the front face of the pile of lumber rests and inclined guides extending from the upper ends of said stops to such a point as to dis-' charge the lumber upon the receiving element, said stops and guides being bodily movable together, means for pivoting the structure at its end adjacent the receiving element and means for imparting vertical movement to that end of the structure against which the pile of lumber lies.

Signed at Seattle, l/Vashington, this 9th day of'November, 1916.

CARL A. LOHMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.? 

